Buoyed by his reelection, Mattiello says he has the votes to remain speaker

Thursday

Nov 8, 2018 at 10:26 AMNov 8, 2018 at 10:31 AM

Triumphant over his reelection, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said Tuesday he expects an endorsement of his leadership of the House of Representatives at a Democratic caucus Thursday evening and to reinstate the top lieutenants of his leadership team for next year.

Mattiello, who held off a Republican challenger while under fire from traditional Democratic allies and members of his own caucus, told The Journal on Wednesday he has support from at least 45 representatives, more than the 38 votes he needs to remain speaker next year, and expects to receive their backing at a closed-door Democratic caucus scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel Grille restaurant in Cranston.

Around 40 House lawmakers came to House leadership offices in the State House on Tuesday night after results came in to congratulate one another and give Mattiello their support, he said Wednesday.

They include Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi, Majority Whip John "Jay" Edwards, Deputy Majority Whip Christopher Blazejewski and Deputy Speaker Charlene Lima. Mattiello said he intends to put all three up for re-election to those roles at Thursday's caucus.

Frustration among progressive lawmakers marked the end of last year's House session, and Democratic primary fights roiled the House over the summer. Speaking on WPRO radio earlier in the day, Mattiello called himself a "firewall" against a "minority interest" trying to control the state.

Does he plan to offer any concessions or olive branch to House dissidents in order to bring Democrats together?

"Yes, I plan on working with and conversing and collaborating with everyone in the House," he said.

"But let's be clear, the last couple of months were specifically designed to try to affect my election in my home district. And I always said it wasn't real. If someone wanted to vote against me [for speaker], vote against me when it is your time to vote. But they have all previously expressed support, some enthusiastically. And then before an election you feel compelled to go forward and say negative things about me?"

In addition to complaints about specific bills dying in the House, Republicans and 18 current and future anti-Mattiello House Democrats have called for rules changes to reduce the power of the speaker.

Mattiello said while he looks at the House rules every year, he is not expecting any major changes such as guaranteeing bills get committee votes or electing leadership positions by secret ballot.

On getting more women in leadership positions:

"You want every demographic represented on your leadership team," Mattiello said. "But first and foremost ... when I picked majority leader two years ago — for an important position like that, I don't care if it is a woman, a minority or a robot. What I am concerned with is the individual is the best one qualified for doing the job."

Rep. John Lombardi of Providence is the only other Democrat to openly seek the speaker's gavel. On Wednesday, he told The Journal he does not plan to attend the caucus Thursday because it appears to be a "fait accompli."

But, Lombardi said, "a lot can happen between now and January" when the entire House votes on the speaker for the year ahead.

House Republicans, who are now down to nine members after losing two seats Tuesday, met Wednesday night at the State House and elected Rep. Blake Filippi, R-Block Island, their new minority leader, he told the Journal late Wednesday night. Filippe replaces Rep. Patricia Morgan, who was removed as minority leader this fall after she endorsed independent candidate Joe Trillo for governor.

Rep. Michael Chippendale, R-Foster, was elected minority whip, Filippe said in an email.

Senate Democrats have scheduled their caucus at the State House on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Mattiello survived a multi-pronged attack by construction trade unions unhappy with his role in the loss of the PawSox to Worcester, a joint effort by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence and the state chapter of the National Organization for Women to gain reelection.

In the radio interview, Mattiello labeled as "unfair' and "totally irresponsible" the attempt to tar him with ignoring the allegations of sexual harassment that Rep. Katherine Kazarian — accusing an older, married legislator — mentioned in a private email to Mattiello that was leaked to WPRI-TV in the last lap of the campaigns. No one has taken credit for making public the email that Kazarian, D-East Providence, has indicated she wanted to keep private.

"At the end of the day,'' he said, "seeing that effort fail, that unfair process fail, was heartwarming, quite frankly."

The anti-Mattiello group known as "Citizens for a Corruption Free RI" — that was formed by RI Now and the RI Coalition Against Gun Violence — put out a statement of disappointment on Wednesday.

"During his time as Speaker, Mattiello has single-handedly held back legislation that would protect a woman’s right to choose, that would allow survivors of sexual assault to seek justice, and that would keep firearms out of K-12 schools, all at the behest of the corporate lobbyists and special interest groups that support him," said Linda Finn, the former state lawmaker who led the effort. “Despite the widespread support these bills enjoy, it is not possible to pass any of them under Mattiello’s corrupt, autocratic leadership.”

-kgregg@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7078

-panderson@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7412

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